Master’s Degree Program with a Dietetic Internship
Focus on human nutrition or food systems and society as you prepare to become a registered dietitian through advanced study and hands-on experience.
Why earn your M.S. degree combined with a Dietetic Internship from OHSU?
- ACEND-accredited program. Earn your M.S. while meeting the supervised practice requirements to become a registered dietitian and prepare for the RD exam.
- High first-time pass rate. 100% of graduates pass the RD exam on their first try.
- Graduate-level training. Build advanced knowledge in medical nutrition therapy, research methods and critical thinking to prepare for leadership roles.
- Rotations arranged for you. OHSU handles your placements and preceptors for you, so you can focus on learning.
- Supportive faculty. Learn from experienced dietitians and educators dedicated to your growth and success.
Still undecided? Sign up to receive more information.
Scholarships available
OHSU offers a variety of scholarships that can help fund your education.
Admission and application requirements
Admissions requirements
To apply, you must have:
- A bachelor’s degree in any field
- Completed, or will soon complete, an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)*
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher
*A DPD is a set of undergraduate or graduate courses required before beginning a dietetic internship. Find a DPD in your area.
How to apply
Apply by Jan. 15 for a spring start date. View deadline details.
- Create an online account through DICAS (Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services) and select “OHSU MS in Human Nutrition with Dietetic Internship or MS in Food Systems and Society with Dietetic Internship”
- Complete all sections of the DICAS application
- Answer all OHSU-specific program questions
- Submit three letters of recommendation (at least one from a DPD faculty member)
- Submit a personal statement
Tuition and scholarships
- Cost: $757 - $842 per credit for Oregon residents and non-residents. View full estimated costs, including living expenses, books, supplies and other education costs.
- Scholarships: Scholarships are available to help you fund your education.
Degree requirements and course schedules
M.S. in Human Nutrition with a Dietetic Internship
You need to complete 22 credits for your Dietetic Internship and 45 credits to earn your M.S. in Human Nutrition degree. This includes core coursework, supervised practice and a graduate thesis or capstone project.
- Length: 2 years
- GPA: Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA graduate
- Supervised practice: Complete 1,056 supervised practice hours
After completing the program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the RD exam.
Sample class schedule
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences | NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone | NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone |
| NUTN 508: Journal Club | NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences | NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences |
| NUTN 522: Antioxidant, Bone and Protein Metabolism | NUTN 529B: Nutritional Physiology | NUTN 507: Seminar |
| NUTN 529A: Nutritional Physiology | NUTN 508: Journal Club | IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety |
| IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety | IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety | NUTN 514: Nutrition Research |
| NUTN 527: Nutrition Epidemiology |
| Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone | NUTN 501A: Academic Foundations | NUTN 501B: Academic Foundations | NUTN 501C: Academic Foundations |
| NUTN 521: Energy Metabolism | NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Rotations | NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Rotations | NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Rotations |
| BSTA 525: Intro to Biostatistics | NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences | NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences | NUTN 505: Reading and Conferences |
| NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone | NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone | NUTN 503/506: Thesis or Capstone |
Electives
Students in the M.S. in Human Nutrition with Dietetic Internship program must complete 13 elective credits. Faculty offer electives nearly every term, with most courses available every other year. Options include motivational interviewing, nutrition for older adults, sports nutrition and more.
Class descriptions
M.S. in Food Systems and Society with a Dietetic Internship
You need to complete 22 credits for your Dietetic Internship and 50 credits to earn your M.S. in Food Systems and Society degree. This includes core coursework, supervised practice and a capstone project.
- Length: 2 years
- GPA: Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA graduate
- Supervised practice: Complete 1,056 supervised practice hours
After completing the program, you’ll be eligible to sit for the RD exam.
Sample class schedule
| Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSS 500: Food Systems Inquiry (online) | FSS 501: Concepts and Contexts in FSS (online) | FSS 511: Food Systems and Culture (online) | FSS 520: Food Systems Theories and Methodologies (online) |
| FSS 502: Academic Foundations (online) | FSS 510: Food Policy and Politics (online) | FSS 503: Critical Text-based Research (online) | FSS 504: Capstone Preparation (online) |
| NUTN 501A Academic Foundations | NUTN 501B: Transition to Clinical Nutrition | NUTN 501C: Transition to Professional Practice | |
| IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety | NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Experience | NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Experience | |
| IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety | IPE 501: Foundations in Patient Safety |
| Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTN 504: Supervised Practice Experience | FSS 598A: Capstone 1 (online) | FSS 598B: Capstone 2 (online) | FSS 598C: Capstone 3 (online) |
| FSS 560: Economic Justice in FSS | FSS 550: Social Movements in FSS (online) | FSS 580: Scholarship and Social Change (online) | |
| FSS 506: Capstone Completion (online) |
Class descriptions
Sample thesis and capstone projects
Explore the nutrition or food systems topics you care about most through your thesis or capstone project.
Examples of past projects include:
- Creating nutrition programs for people in substance use recovery
- Studying the role of diet in preventing and managing chronic diseases
- Exploring how plant-based diets affect the gut microbiome
- Creating sustainable food systems for local communities
- Studying the impact of food policies on public health
- Finding solutions to food insecurity in underserved areas
Supervised practice
Get hands-on experience in clinical, community, food service and specialty settings. You’ll apply nutrition and dietetics principles in real-world situations with support from experienced preceptors.
We arrange all rotations and preceptors for you and will work with you to create a personalized schedule that meets your needs.
Locations
You’ll be assigned to a primary location, with opportunities to complete additional rotations in communities across Oregon.
Most students are placed in the Portland area, including at OHSU Hospital, the VA Portland Health Care System and other clinical or community sites. Primary placements may also be available in Medford, Klamath Falls or Bend.
M.S. with a Dietetic Internship FAQs
Why should I choose a combined M.S. degree and Dietetic Internship?
You need both a graduate degree and a Dietetic Internship to take the RD exam and become a registered dietitian. OHSU’s combined program helps you meet both requirements while building advanced skills in research, leadership and evidence-based practice.
You’ll also complete supervised practice at sites selected from OHSU’s statewide network of more than 300 partners, giving you valuable career connections and real-world experience. By completing your degree and internship together as a full-time student, you can finish faster than if you did them separately.
What is the difference between the M.S. in Human Nutrition and the M.S. in Food Systems and Society with a Dietetic Internship?
Both programs let you earn a Master of Science degree and complete a Dietetic Internship, so you can qualify to take the RD exam and become a registered dietitian.
- The human nutrition program prepares you for careers in clinical, community and food service settings.
- The food systems and society program focuses on food equity, sustainability and social justice. It prepares you for work in policy, advocacy and community-based nutrition.
Both options include supervised practice, graduate-level coursework and a final thesis or capstone project.
How long does the program take?
You can complete the program two years.
Do I need to complete a DPD before applying?
Yes. You must complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) approved by ACEND before starting the program. You’ll also need a DPD verification statement.
Does OHSU arrange supervised practice placements?
Yes. We’ll work with you to create an individualized rotation schedule and match you with preceptors.
What is the RD exam pass rate?
94.5% of students who complete the M.S. with a Dietetic Internship program at OHSU pass the RD exam on their first try.
Hear from students
“I chose OHSU because of its strong clinical foundation and the professors’ passion for nutrition. They've been actively involved in our training, and the hospitals where we’re placed care about our work and offer a wide variety of experiences.”
- Grace Wallingford, M.S. with DI student
Accreditation
OHSU’s combined M.S. with a Dietetic Internship program meets the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) standards for quality, design and accessibility.